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Johannesburg - Former Bafana Bafana star Sibusiso Zuma is looking forward to the huge challenge facing him and his new Vasco da Gama teammates as they try their best to stay in the PSL.
The 35-year-old, who has signed a one-year deal with the Capetonians, believes the opening fixture on August 27 against his old club Orlando Pirates is the perfect way to start the season.
"I like challenges, and play well if there is something at stake," he told Football365.co.za.
"Vasco has a lot of talent in the team, we just need to have that confidence. I'm really hoping for them to do well.
"We must not fear the opposition, we have to put it together very early because once you start losing points then you are not going to recover.
"The Pirates match at Cape Town Stadium will be a great one, they're a good team but if we want to stay in the PSL, we need to do well from the beginning.
"Most of the Buccaneers' current squad were youngsters playing in the reserves when I was there in 1999 so it is never easy facing a side like that."
Although the man with over 100 goals in top-flight football is determined to do his best, he doesn't want to promise Vasco fans anything just yet, explaining that he must first get over his ankle injury.
"I'm a striker, have to score goals, will do my best," he laughs.
"But come back to me in a few weeks' time. I want to recover quickly so that I can train one hundred percent.
"I take good care of myself, love training but if you train with an injury, it's always difficult!
"A lot of players when they get old don't want to train yet that's when you must train more."
Zuma spent most of the past decade in Europe, mainly helping FC Copenhagen to numerous honours, and if the dedicated professional can continue where he left off, the Mother City may well be singing his praises as they do in Denmark.
"I'm like a king in Copenhagen," he says proudly.
"I won so many championships, trophies and last year was voted Player of the Decade. When I went back to Denmark from 'Downs everyone was happy.
"The standard of the PSL has improved a lot, they have adopted the European style of play, keeping the ball but the problem is that while everyone wants to play Barcelona style, we don't have the players who can do that.
"SuperSport is doing well with their long balls - they play simple and are winning the League."
The 35-year-old, who has signed a one-year deal with the Capetonians, believes the opening fixture on August 27 against his old club Orlando Pirates is the perfect way to start the season.
"I like challenges, and play well if there is something at stake," he told Football365.co.za.
"Vasco has a lot of talent in the team, we just need to have that confidence. I'm really hoping for them to do well.
"We must not fear the opposition, we have to put it together very early because once you start losing points then you are not going to recover.
"The Pirates match at Cape Town Stadium will be a great one, they're a good team but if we want to stay in the PSL, we need to do well from the beginning.
"Most of the Buccaneers' current squad were youngsters playing in the reserves when I was there in 1999 so it is never easy facing a side like that."
Although the man with over 100 goals in top-flight football is determined to do his best, he doesn't want to promise Vasco fans anything just yet, explaining that he must first get over his ankle injury.
"I'm a striker, have to score goals, will do my best," he laughs.
"But come back to me in a few weeks' time. I want to recover quickly so that I can train one hundred percent.
"I take good care of myself, love training but if you train with an injury, it's always difficult!
"A lot of players when they get old don't want to train yet that's when you must train more."
Zuma spent most of the past decade in Europe, mainly helping FC Copenhagen to numerous honours, and if the dedicated professional can continue where he left off, the Mother City may well be singing his praises as they do in Denmark.
"I'm like a king in Copenhagen," he says proudly.
"I won so many championships, trophies and last year was voted Player of the Decade. When I went back to Denmark from 'Downs everyone was happy.
"The standard of the PSL has improved a lot, they have adopted the European style of play, keeping the ball but the problem is that while everyone wants to play Barcelona style, we don't have the players who can do that.
"SuperSport is doing well with their long balls - they play simple and are winning the League."
